Page 113

 
113 
                     MILLS, FACTORIES, AND SHOPS 
     Now to the reviewing of the industrial progress as witnessed 
in 0mro. Many mills and factories were erected during the boom years 
of the 1850s, 60s, and 70s. There was considerable buying and selling. 
Some men were promotors and frequently sold an establishment soon 
after the building and initial operation.   Owners frequently changed 
partners in business.  Historians do not always agree on dates of a 
business nor the exact locations. 
     The following is a partial directory of the businesses and 
the probable year in which they were in operation or were erected: 
1847-Nelson Beckwith in Beckwithtown, built and operated the first 
     lumber mill. Norman Gerard writes that "Beckwith built a small
     steam saw mill in Be ckwithtown, but this mill did not prove a 
     fi- p-licinl -nnn~. nd later1 rtmcmedthe rnhc~nerrv nearlT the Wisom
            consn ri Vel. 
 18. 147-Elisha Dean built a lImnber plant on the present woolen mill site.
 1          iS-Hiram Johns,"Johnson's" saw and planing mill was
located on 
' -        the north side of the river east of the coorerts factory. 
       1851-Hiram Johnson & Roy Bump owned another saw mill on the north
            side, on what is now E. River Drive. This mill was located 
            wherr the first sewage plant stands.  In 1866 the mill burned
            down, but was rebuilt immediately. 
       1l55-Nornman G-rard bought the Johnsonr miil  "in company with
at'n 
            Eley, a wealthy farmer near Ripon.  He Was soon sick of his deal
            and sold to Dr. Gibbs, who had no capital and no knowledge of
            the business."  This indicates that some people were "plungersS
            in those early days, too.  Later Gerardlsold his interest to
    \      Nathan Johnson. 
   \   1356-WJilson' s and Johnson' s saw mills were run both day and nigrht.
     7 ,  Y W"Vden they closed down in the fall there was but littlelm
            left in their yards. There was so much buIlding taking place
            in the area around that material sold rapidly. 
       1856-57-Andrew Wilson. The mill was located where the G.A.R. Hall
       - i%stands, now Americai Legion hall. 
       -l6-,c.a",-laen grist mill. This operation brought considerable
trade 
 .          to the town.  Ground corn and wheat were a necessity for the
    A\ j'   settlers, used extensively in making breads, puddings, and in
            other baking. Thus a m'.ll near by was a blessing.   These mills
            were also referred to as roller mills,   Later Abr. Ti,,cLaren
moved 
            to Waukau. 
   ,1856-Challoner & Thompson.   They operated a saw mill built on the
    -,'1 a 11 o*ner N"", T o,-      * s" . Th      sa 
       "A, resent i.0.0.F. hall site. 
    ,  -3159or 60-E.A. Buck & Co. were'oat builders. Their factory was
            perhaps the one located near the present home of Ernie Hellwig.
    W-V1860(-Lewisrm Thompson. Their shingle mill ran day and night.   No.
I 
         S ,  I n., 1_!s 'sold at e5.G0O a thousand. P?,-t4 , 
   ,,.\1383O-Utter & Goodenough operated a spoke and hub factory for
several 
 ,N    ( A~   years near the Omro Lumber Co. site.  These hubs were used
for 
      ',l,;<' wagon and carridge wheels. 
    /   "863-Geo. Challoner built a shingle mill later occupied by Thompson
& 
       °  \Y\Hayward. He put in a shingle machine of his own invention,
and 
     \\; /did a good    business. 
¢,,t?,i"863-Calvin C. (Cab) Morton operated a wood-working factory
south 
                    I                       ~~~"Manuf acturer andDelrn
         \   f the depot. An 1894 ad reads,"                     Dealer
in 
         "VSjsh Doors, Blinds, Moldings and Berry Boxes     Tanks and
Cisterns 
            made to order."  Apparently in business a long time, 20
or 30 
            years.